Heading into the final day, only Stats’ position in the plaoffs was assured, with four others battling for the last three spots. Maru and Solar were jockeying for a position in fast lane, while herO and aLive were desperately looking to avoid joining ByuL in Challenge.
Maru took the first game with a proxy two rax and managed to close out the series on Newkirk Precinct after his early cyclone/reaper pressure bought him a few worker kills. A successful defense on aLive's counter drop set him up for a lethal attack that completed the 2-0.
Dear jumped out to an early lead on Abyssal Reef, but an immortal heavy counterattack and warp prism in the main caught him off guard. Dear held herO's two base aggression in game two, but he overextended on the counter and dropped the match to the ROOT Protoss.
Stats secured his direct ticket to the Grand Finals with a 2-0 over ByuL. A charge/archon timing hit ByuL before he had banelings on Ascension to Aiur, while adept pressure killed 24 workers in game two, setting up an easy storm laden defense against ByuL's desperate hydralisk attack.
After Dark and Solar traded relatively uncontested wins in the first two games, the third seesawed back and forth as burrowed roaches and lurkers on both sides led to a basetrade that ultimately went in Solar's favor.
Classic taking the gold as his third paid dividends on Odyssey as he beat back INnoVation's bio/mine timing before overwhelming him with zealots. Classic completely controlled the second game. Adding tempests to an already stout colossus/blink/charge army earned him the victory.
With the regular season at an end, first place going into the playoffs went to Stats, who will wait in the finals. Dark and Dear will kick the postseason off with a Best of 5, with the winner taking on Classic for the right to battle Stats in a Best of 7 which will crown the SSL Premier Season 2 champion.
What's up with Byul dropping in performance so drastically? Dude basically went from one of the absolute best to terrible so quickly. It didn't seem like a slow slump like most players have. Does he just not really care anymore?
On August 29 2017 01:54 goner223 wrote: What's up with Byul dropping in performance so drastically? Dude basically went from one of the absolute best to terrible so quickly. It didn't seem like a slow slump like most players have. Does he just not really care anymore?
Basetrade said he was sick for a few weeks a little while ago. Ever since then he doesn't seem to care all that much.
I think I saw a post saying he was retiring soon or something?
Stats and Dark are the only two who could possibly win GSL + SSL.
That being said, I fully expect Dark to lose one or both of his matches against TY and Dear, respectively, because they take place within 2 days of each other. TY and Dear play different races (obviously) and drastically different styles, preparing for both at the same time must be super tough.
Stats on the other hand is in a better boat because he is already in the SSL finals. That being said he's also up against Rogue in GSL, who is just about the worst opponent he could ask for and I expect Rogue to beat Stats on Wednesday.
So in all likelihood, no double champion yet again this season (unsurprisingly).
On August 29 2017 01:54 goner223 wrote: What's up with Byul dropping in performance so drastically? Dude basically went from one of the absolute best to terrible so quickly. It didn't seem like a slow slump like most players have. Does he just not really care anymore?
Basetrade said he was sick for a few weeks a little while ago. Ever since then he doesn't seem to care all that much.
I think I saw a post saying he was retiring soon or something?
The link above is the interview with Byul after he won against alive in SSL. You can use google translate to read it. In short, he lose interest, and he confirm there's nothing around that.
On August 29 2017 03:51 VengefulTree wrote: I don't get it, why is dark advancing instead of Maru of Inno? They have the same score and map differential
It appears to be his head to head result against both Maru and Inno.
On August 29 2017 02:59 pvsnp wrote: Stats and Dark are the only two who could possibly win GSL + SSL.
That being said, I fully expect Dark to lose one or both of his matches against TY and Dear, respectively, because they take place within 2 days of each other. TY and Dear play different races (obviously) and drastically different styles, preparing for both at the same time must be super tough.
Stats on the other hand is in a better boat because he is already in the SSL finals. That being said he's also up against Rogue in GSL, who is just about the worst opponent he could ask for and I expect Rogue to beat Stats on Wednesday.
So in all likelihood, no double champion yet again this season (unsurprisingly).
On August 29 2017 02:59 pvsnp wrote: Stats and Dark are the only two who could possibly win GSL + SSL.
That being said, I fully expect Dark to lose one or both of his matches against TY and Dear, respectively, because they take place within 2 days of each other. TY and Dear play different races (obviously) and drastically different styles, preparing for both at the same time must be super tough.
Stats on the other hand is in a better boat because he is already in the SSL finals. That being said he's also up against Rogue in GSL, who is just about the worst opponent he could ask for and I expect Rogue to beat Stats on Wednesday.
So in all likelihood, no double champion yet again this season (unsurprisingly).
EPT
Stats’ position in the plaoffs was assured, with four others battling for the last three spots. 
Maru and 
Solar were jockeying for a position in fast lane, while 
2017 StarCraft II StarLeague Season 2/Premier
